Summer Law Clerk

Job Description

About Company

Earthjustice is a distinguished environmental law organization, founded in 1971, with a significant track record of achieving lasting environmental protections. Its core mission is to “wield the power of law and the strength of partnership” to:
• Protect people’s health.
• Preserve magnificent places and wildlife.
• Advance clean energy.
• Combat climate change.

Earthjustice partners with thousands of groups and supporters, taking on major, precedent-setting cases across the United States. Its approach emphasizes using legal power and strategic alliances to address critical environmental issues. The organization’s fundamental belief is encapsulated in its tagline: “The earth needs a good lawyer.”

Job Description

This description outlines the opportunity for a Summer Law Clerk within Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Regional Program (RMO).

1. Rocky Mountain Regional Program (RMO) Focus:
The RMO specifically concentrates its work in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Its primary case areas involve:
• Protecting public lands and wildlife from threats such as fracking, mining, and other destructive activities.
• Facilitating a rapid transition in Colorado and neighboring states from dirty to clean energy sources, moving away from fossil fuel combustion in sectors like transportation, buildings, and industry.
• Safeguarding urban and rural communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution and various environmental harms.

2. Summer Law Clerk Role and Responsibilities:
As a Summer Law Clerk, you will gain hands-on experience by:
• Conducting legal and factual research.
• Drafting memoranda and court pleadings.
• Assisting attorneys with various tasks, including client interactions and oral argument preparation.
• Collaborating with multiple attorneys on case development and litigation strategy.
• Potentially drafting pleadings and briefs, developing strategy and legal theories, gathering evidence, and attending client meetings and court proceedings.

3. Desired Skills and Qualities:
Applicants are sought who demonstrate:
• Strong core legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.
• A proven interest in and capacity for applying emotional intelligence and cultural competency in their work.

4. Programmatic Offerings:
The summer law clerk program at Earthjustice is designed to enhance professional development and networking, including:
• Coordinated summer events to foster professional connections within the office and the broader public-interest legal community.
• In-person and virtual seminars featuring attorneys and guest speakers on current environmental issues.
• Opportunities for interactions with other local and regional environmental groups.
• A dedicated job interview workshop.

5. Compensation:
• This is a paid position.
• Earthjustice provides a one-time stipend of $1,320.00 per week.
• The total stipend amount will be adjusted based on any external funding a student secures (e.g., through their law school’s summer funding program), with Earthjustice’s contribution minus the external amount and applicable taxes.
• Securing outside funding will not influence the hiring process.

6. Program Duration and Hours:
• The clerkship is designed for 10 weeks.
• It operates at full-time hours (37.5 hours/week).

7. Location:
• Clerks are expected to work proximate to or in an office where the program is located within the U.S.

8. Eligibility:
Candidates must:
• Be enrolled in a U.S. law school through fall 2026 (meaning not graduating before December 2026).
• Be available to commit ten weeks during summer 2026.
• Work from the U.S. during their clerkship.

9. Application Process:
• Application Deadline: September 1, 2025, by 5:00 PM PT.
• Submission Method: Complete application via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Multiple Applications: Candidates may apply to multiple litigation teams. A follow-up email will be sent requesting a ranked choice of applied teams; do not include rankings in the initial Jobvite application.
• Recommended Action: Tailoring your cover letter to describe interest in specific teams is recommended.

10. Required Application Materials:
• Resume.
• Cover letter that addresses:
• Relevant background not fully explained in the resume.
• Why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and the specific litigation teams you are applying for.
• Any particular environmental or public interest issues that inspire you.
• Additional documents (submitted via “Add Files” in Jobvite):
• A recent legal writing sample (maximum 10 pages) primarily reflecting your work. Include a cover page indicating the extent of edits/feedback from others.
• Unofficial transcript.
• References: Finalists will be asked to submit two references (law school faculty, legal professionals, clinical, or volunteer supervisors).